Military

Further Reading

Dupuy de Lôme hosting the MINREM

Thales was selected by the French Defence Procurement Agency (DGA) on January 2002 as Prime contractor for the future French Joint SIGINT ship Dupuy de Lôme hosting the MINREM (Moyen Interarmées Navalisé de Renseignement d'origine Electro-Magnétique) payload. Thales Naval France and Compagnie Nationale de Navigation (CNN) are the Prime contractors, CNN through its Compagnie Maritime Nantaise subsidiary supplying the ship platform, and Thales Communications the complete Intelligence Collection payload (COMINT, ELINT, IT systems for Intelligence, and internal and Externalship communications). The Dupuy de Lôme was handed over to the DGA on 15th December 2005, and accepted by the French Navy on the same day.

Displacing over 3000 tons, the Dupuy de Lôme is 102 m long and features living and work areas designed for maximum crew and operators efficiency and comfort. The high level of system automation makes it possible to be operated with a limited crew of 30 members. The MINREM payload provides high-performance strategic Intelligence collection and analysis capacities with the integration of state-of-the-art COMINT and ELINT sensors, and real-time information system for the interception, monitoring, direction finding, signal analysis and recording of all radar and Radio-communications signals. The support services will ensure vessel availability meeting or exceeding 350 days per year.

The new MINREM payload will be a key asset of the France's Joint Forces'C3I system, performing Intelligence collection missions in all waters from peacetime to crisis and war time, operated by the France's Directorate of Military Intelligence (DRM). The MINREM payload is based on High sensitivity COMINT (XPLORER), Satellite and ELINT sensors providing precise and timely Intelligence information for detection, interception, location and identification of all Communication and Radar signals from HF to SHF frequency bands, including the most complex waveforms. THe Wideband signal acquisition and analysis (PAC) sensors are for listening-in and real-time or off-line signal analysis. A Comprehensive IT system for Intelligence collection and exploitation, providing interoperability with the French Intelligence chain. The Open system and sensors architecture will allow easy upgrades through technology insertion.

Thales added-value:

Thales' expertise in Prime-contractorship and system engineering

Strong program management ensuring the challenging delivery on time and in the budget constraints.